books

About the Power of Books

Posted by on Wednesday, Apr 27, 2011 - 4:39 PM

My thoughts are lingering in the sad, but hopeful world described by Nina Sankovitch in her memoir Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading. Nina writes about reading a book each day, as a way to process the grief of her sister's untimely death. The book tells Nina's story and as we get to know her family, the thoughtful narrative draws the reader into a joyous world of both intellectual pursuit and sensuous experience. The despair of losing her sister is lightened with the memories of their times together.

I know Nina- (she hosts the Library's monthly Book Chat)- but even if I had never met her, she is an author the reader wants to get to know better. Throughout this gracefully written and poignant memoir are interspersed Nina's comments about the books she read each day. The power of grief, the importance of family and memories, the beauty of love ...and a reading list to carry you through the next year or two.